How the Queen is training Prince William to become king

Despite the fact that Prince Charles is almost certain to become the next king (regardless of popularity tests) it’s likely that Prince William will also take the crown one day - and the Queen is making sure he’ll be ready for the role when it happens.

According to PEOPLE, Queen Elizabeth has been training William to become King since he was a teenager to ensure he follows the royal path perfectly.

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“There has always been a special closeness between William and the Queen, and she has taken a particular interest in him,” said Robert Lacey, historian and consultant to the hit Netflix series The Crown.

He added: “It’s no secret that she and Charles have had a prickly relationship at times. When William became a teenager, she would have him at Windsor Castle and would open the state boxes and guide him through the papers. It was William’s constitutional education.”

From the outside, it wouldn’t seem that the pair have a “prickly” relationship at all. William has always been the more sensible of Charles’ sons, having had a good career in the air ambulance service and married much-loved Kate Middleton.

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He even praises his grandmother and her dedication to her role of Queen. He told the BBC last year that she is “the best role model I could have,” and that she offers “more of a soft influencing, modest kind of guidance.”

It also seems to be tradition that the current king or queen passes on knowledge to future monarchs - Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI did the same for her by guiding her through paperwork etc.

It is believed, however, that Prince William will begin to step into the Queen’s shoes by taking on more of her official engagements, following Prince Philip’s retirement.